Source: BL
Subject: Defence
Context: India will publicly debut its Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR-AShM) at the 77th Republic Day parade, marking India’s entry into the exclusive hypersonic anti-ship weapons club.
About Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LRAShM):
What it is?
- LR-AShM is an indigenous hypersonic glide missile designed to engage high-value naval targets, including aircraft carrier battle groups, at very long ranges with extreme speed and evasive manoeuvres.
Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy, primarily to meet coastal battery and maritime strike requirements.
Aim:
- Enhance maritime deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Neutralise enemy surface combatants at standoff distances, beyond the reach of conventional cruise missiles.
- Strengthen A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) capabilities through shore-based, mobile launchers.
Key features:
- Hypersonic speed: Operates in the hypersonic regime (up to ~Mach 10, average hypersonic glide around Mach 5+), drastically compressing enemy reaction time.
- Long range: ~1,500 km operational range (future variants reportedly aiming higher).
- Boost-glide architecture: Two-stage solid propulsion boosts the vehicle; post-burnout unpowered hypersonic glide with multiple manoeuvres.
- Advanced guidance: Inertial navigation + satellite aid + active radar seekers, enabling accurate engagement of moving targets and resilience against electronic countermeasures.
- Low-altitude, manoeuvrable flight: High speed and evasive trajectory reduce radar detection and interception probability.
- Deployment flexibility: Land-based mobile launchers initially; ship-borne and air-launched variants envisaged.
Significance:
- Places India alongside the US, Russia and China in hypersonic glide missile capability.
- Credibly threatens carrier strike groups and strengthens India’s posture across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
